WATCH: Dan Reynolds waves Palestinian flag at Milan concert during Imagine Dragons tour
-Instagram, X.
Dan Reynolds, lead singer of Imagine Dragons, drew widespread attention during the band’s recent concert in Milan by draping a Palestinian flag over his shoulders onstage—a gesture that prompted cheers from the audience but has since sparked mixed reactions online.
The flag was reportedly thrown onto the stage during the May 27 performance. Reynolds picked it up, held it aloft to loud applause, and then placed it around his shoulders as the band continued playing. Videos of the moment quickly went viral on platforms like TikTok, X, and Instagram, shared widely by pro-Palestinian accounts such as @humantiproject and photojournalist Motaz Azaiza.
The move marks a notable shift for the band, which faced criticism in 2023 for performing in Israel and Azerbaijan despite public calls for boycotts. At the time, many fans and human rights advocates urged the group to cancel those shows.
Reynolds defended their decision in a 2024 interview with Rolling Stone, stating, “I don’t believe in depriving our fans… because of the acts of their leaders and their governments,” calling such choices a “slippery slope.”
Now, the Milan concert gesture is being interpreted by some as a possible reconsideration of that stance, while others view it as symbolic but lacking follow-through.
You know it's moments like these where I genuinely don't know what to do with myself anymore...
I actually really liked Imagine Dragons, But now it seems they genuinely hate my people.
It's disgusting how people still view Palestine as a moral virtue when it's all a myth. pic.twitter.com/zuIQPndcm7The incident comes amid rising global scrutiny of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. As public awareness grows, artists are increasingly expected to take a stand on political and humanitarian issues.
Imagine Dragons now joins a growing list of musicians—such as Green Day, who recently expressed solidarity during their Coachella set—who are visibly engaging with the issue of Palestine amid ongoing conflict and calls for international attention.